Cocoa Butter and Communion

Heeeyyyy we are at episode 40! This week I am bringing in the heat (literally and figuratively) with Chi Chi Anyanwu. We chat about names, the elders telling us lies, drinking wine and bourbon, being a Tik Tok star (Viola Davis knows her y'all), preparing ourselves for our kids leaving, parenting and some other stuff.   A resident of Sacramento for over 28 years, Chinyere "Chi Chi" Anyanwu is a Lo...

Hey Village! It has been a few weeks since the last episode but here we are, in the HEAT of the summer, but staying cool with conversation. This week, I am communing with the future Mayor of Sacramento, Dr. Flojaune Cofer. We talk about the seeds planted for greatness, books, of course, her vision and love for Sacramento and the take over of a kid's podcast (who's kid? My kid). Dr. Flo has been a...

We are almost to episode 40 and what is a better way to celebrate than to bring in more of my family? My grandparents had 5 children and 10 grandchildren (I am #5, Olivia is #8 and Dallas is #9). On this episode we discuss us getting to know each other as adults, race and their own identities and how that continues to show up for them; we talk family, the possibilities of establishing connection a...

My husband tells me that I make friends wherever I go. I think he may be on to something because on one of our latest trips to Atlanta, at a family gathering (not even my biological family), I met one of the sweetest people and she is on the podcast today to talk about parenting children with special needs and homeschooling them; advocating for her babies during COVID, and how she cares for hersel...

Hey Village! Today is the first day of summer and what better way than to kick it off with my dear friend, Timiza Wash. Timiza's works passionately to communicate to the community about domestic violence, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and teaching our boys about consent. Timiza is a boss and I would expect nothing more but it is an honor to be in the presence of her and others who are...

Sheeee's back... Our friend of the village, Malikka Rogers is back on the show! On the last show she visited, we left on a cliffhanger and I promised she would come back. Luckily, she did! Malikka shared her insight and provided her wisdom on topics like spirituality, her crush on Stanley Tucci and his love of food, and trauma related to attending PWIs. I also publicly shared who my odd celebrity...

Hey Village! On today's episode y'all get to hear me become a fangirl. Books and stories are so powerful and when I had the opportunity to chat with today's guest, I almost lost it. She is definitely one of my favorite modern authors. While I was reading her book, I thought "yep, this is my spirit twin and imaginary homie." My younger self mirrored hers. I am such a huge fan of my guest, Chrissy K...

Hey y'all. I am back! Back from vacation, back from my birthday celebration...I am just back. I have missed y'all. I love the questions, comments, or curiosities that you send to me through email, website, and some of y'all slide in my DMs (cute, cute). So...this episode, I wanted to respond to the messages, publicly. I decided to allow Dan to ask me some questions of yours and he added some quest...

My lovely guest, Malikka is back and we are talking about some things that give us joy but also makes us ponder, blackness (of course), my son's choice for an influential Black American, and Jonathan Majors' ridiculousness.  Of course, we talk music but more specifically, Malikka lists her favorite music videos of all time and I do too.  Follow Malikka on Facebook (Tackling Tomfoolery), IG (@tackl...

Hey Village! This week, my cousin, Yolanda Hughes, is up. I am glad she is here to talk about a conversation that has been slowly unfolding for years, the relationship with her mother. This conversation was healing for me and I hope that it was for her too. I am reminded of the stories that are in our spirit to release and how some of us never do. These stories can be painful but the sharing may b...

Happy May! Or as N Sync says, "It's gonna be Maaaayyy". This week, I am conversing with Emily Autenrieth, the owner of A Seat at the Table Books. Her and I talk about the importance of indie bookstores, more than ever, decentering whiteness and how she got into the work she is in. Y'all know I love a good bookstore and this is one of the best in the area.  Emily Autenrieth was born and raised in A...

She is back. Theresa is back and this time we are discussing protecting your peace, entering into new spaces, and loving.  Theresa Fortune is a mama, activist, author, actress, filmmaker and beautiful spirit. She discusses her film, From the Ashes (please check it out...you will be glad you did). For information on her film, please check her out on IG @fromtheashes_oakland or go to her website, ww...

Hey y'all! I am glad you have stopped by! Today's episode I am joined by my dear friend, Melissa McMurrey and we talk about the dynamics between Black women and White women, who is responsible for dismantling racism, her work in decentering her own whiteness (because she knows it is not all about her) and what being an ally vs. being an abolitionist vs. being an accomplice is, to her.  Her and I d...

Y'all... Dan G is back. This episode, I focus on who he is an an individual and not just "Chioko's Husband" (folks call him that in the streets). He is so much more than my husband and we talk about that, we talk about his journey as an individual, lessons learned, and what can be passed on. We are just coming back to our reality from our vacation and we are all tired (that is why this episode is...

Charge it to my head and not my heart, y'all. Today's episode is a little late due to...life but we are back and we are back with another great episode! This week, I welcome my spirit twin, Rose-Stella Pierre-Louis to the show so we can talk about how we met, empowerment, imposter syndrome (do you have it?) and joy and we had a joyful time. Rose-Stella Pierre-Louis is a Haitian-American mother, oc...

Y'all we have made it to episode 25!! What a ride it has been! This week, I chat with my dear friend Sabrina Berhane, the ultimate badass. Sabrina is an entrepreneur, a mother, a sister, a friend, a community member, and the voice of reason. We talk about her beginnings, business, success, and her family. I am glad to know her and I am so in awe of her.  Sabrina is reading Wife of the Gods by Kwei...

This week I talk with Troy Roberts, a new friend of the village. Him and I sit back and chop it up about his work as a doula. Yes, you read that right. This is a man, a man that is a doula...a Black man that is a doula. We talk about his journey into the work, his joy in the work, the passion for his work, and the stigma that he has faced. Troy wants to make sure we establish community with one an...

We have marched into March with another episode and another phenomenal guest. This week, I chat with Brandy Jones-Thomas! She is the professor that we all should of had.  Brandy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist that has been a practicing Clinician for 15 years, primarily working in Community based Non-Profits, and County mental health programs in South Sacramento. Brandy has also worked...

I am back y'all! On this week's episode, I talk with the beautiful and fly Makeda Berhane. Makeda is the co-owner of the greatest coffee shop, Tiferet. She is also a beautiful human being with so much to share about her upbringing in central California, her origin, love, life, and family. She also discusses how her beautiful daughter changed her perspective.  Makeda is currently listening to Leon...

This week I catch up with J. Rowe (y'all will learn that I cannot call her by her government name). She is an educator and a poet and I am so glad that she stopped by the village to share about what she has been up to! This episode we talk about what happens when things fall apart, taking chances, and of course, boundaries.  J. Rowe is currently reading Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Libe...

There is no one better to talk about joy with than Dr. Malakai Coté. He exudes it. Many of us are feeling weighed down by Tyre Nichols' death, as well as the many before him. Many of us feel like we have to keep going. Is there a way that we can find our joy? How do we hold onto it when it doesn't feel like it is there? Dr. Coté discusses Black aliveness through joy and so much more.  Malakai Coté...

As Shawn Carter said, "Guess who's bizaack?" My bestie, Jessica has returned to the village with a headset y'all! This episode we talk about becoming intentional in our relationships, lessons learned in love and moving forward after heartbreak.  The song that reminds Jessica of falling in love for the first time is Maxwell's "Whenever, Wherever, Whatever" and my picks were Donny Hathaway's music "...

This week's guest is a friend of the village, Dr. Ericka Burns is back y'all and this time we are talking colorism within our community. This is a topic of conversation that comes up indirectly and directly ALL the damn time so let's address it.  Ericka is not doing a lot of reading these days (chile, she is busy and has too many books to choose from) but she is watching good television. She talks...

My son, Alex drops by the podcast this week to talk about parenting, my style of parenting, having a village and music, of course. We share a lot of laughs, especially about his relationship with his dad.  Alex is currently reading, "Stamped From the Beginning" by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi  Chioko is reading "Ausomely Aaron" a children's illustrated book by Alexander Grevious (Yes!! This Alex!!). The boo...

I know the topic of death and dying is scary. We don't like to talk about it or think about it. I wanted to talk to someone who helps people through this to plan for the future of their family. This week's episode, I am joined by my brother-in-law, David Grevious, to discuss what his idea of a good ancestor is and a particular way to prepare to be that good ancestor. David specializes in life insu...